The San Saba news. [volume] (San Saba, Tex.) 1873-1966, 1887-06-03
Jadre Townes' speech.

assembled al the courthouse Wednesday
night Of last week 70 hear Judge Townes
on The question Of Prohibition. The judge
+ we'll known here. having lived at this
place seven or eight years, and there Is
probably no man in Texas who enjoys the
confidence Of our people in a higher de-
gree than does John c. Townes. Hence
uhen is was known that he would speak,
the people turned ont IN masse, notwith-
standing tie threatening aspect of the
weather. Below is a synopsis Of the speech
delivered by him, and we think it will
amply pay a prehibitiOnist to read it, and
the ants viii gain some valuable informa-
ton by giving it their attention.
The line Of argument was substantially
y fsiises
Reference mas made to Col T. Q. Mills
speech al Dallas. in those portions which
state that Thomas Jeas4son, who was then
minister to France, sounded across the
waters q note Of alarm in 1854, when our
federal constitution was being prepared,
and urged upon the body originating it
ihe absolute necessity Of adding to that
Instrument a Bill Of Rights, which should
forever guarantee to the individual pro-
lection from violation Of any Of his inal-
ienable rights and liberties, and showing
that IL Difference to this warning such
Bill Of Rights was prepared and made a
part Of that constitution. 1t was contend
ed that this Bill Of Rights was prepared
- the founders Of our government and
was perfected by them, and included every
night which should remain in the individ
ual free from governmental interference.
II Eas thus shown that, beginning in
lssd, when Chief Justice Toney was on
the supreme bench Of the United States,
down to this time, this Bill of Rights as it
affected the liquor traffic by the people of
the several states, has been before the SUI
grsme court Of the United States time and
again, and in every instance, that court,
the highest in the civilized world, has
held thar there is nothing in that Bill
which guarantees to any party right to
SCI. liquor, but on the contrary that every
pfohitiiory law which sought to prevent
the sale Of iat0xicanis had been held con-
stitutional II was further shown that
every court Of last resort. that is supreme
courts and courts Of appeals, ofeyery state
which has passed upon the question, has
held the same view. there being only one
case holding 70 the contrary, in Indiana,
and this case was over ruled on the very
Grst opportunity, and now there is not a
dissenting voice in the courts Ct the whole
union on this snject. Our own supreme
court, ;5th Texas, English vs.. The State,
held that one Of Of the chief functions of
the government is to protect the citizen
against crime aud to prevent its commits
sion.
Il was then shown that Judge Clark.
present chairman of the anti-prohibition
czeenfire committee, when judge Of the
court Of appeals of Texas, in Lewis vs..
The State, eth Court of Appeals, decided
in passing on tie pistol law, that that law
vas constitutional, and vas justified by
tho right Of the people to prevent crime.
It wa here commended that for the gov
eminent TO levy taxes and then fail .opro-
teci tha weak against the strong and the
law-abiding against the vicious, was in
inst and legalized wrsng.
The object Of prohibition IS to prevent
crime and increase the general welfare and
Of the people. 1t is not an in
vasion Of an inalienable right. Our rights
ara these. First, 20 live, uninjured in life
or member, by the act or omissions Of 9th
srs. Second, To enjoy personal liberty
rhird, 70 acquire, use and enjoy property
The speaker here showed that all these
rights were relative and subject TO this
limitation: That We must 30 exercise our
own rights as not to harm or interfere
with the just rights Of Others. The ants
admit this. 10 the 4th section Of the call
from the Drislsll Hotel for the Dallas anti
It Is admitted that we have no
night 70 engage in habits and customs
which are not innocent in themselves or
which arc harmful TO others. In the Dali
las platform is substantially the same ad-
mission. The trainers OF these instruments
Jared not 90 before an intelligent public
with a denial Of this restriction upon their
personal liberty.
Il is with the liquor traffic we have to
Do in this eampaign-Dot the saloon keep
r.. His business is legalized and we have
20 word Of abuse or reflection on him for
following it. We put the blame upon the
aw and desire its support Withdrawn from
Ibis traffic.
With a view of aseertaining the real
truth about this matter and TO determine
4 possible whether the liquor traffic did
Ineise TO, foster and produce crime, the
speaker had prepared a circular letter on
hat subject, asking whether there was
any part Of the crime now committed in
Texas clearly ohargable to tine use Of in
.oxieants, and if 50, whal proportion could
be Justly 80 charged. One Of these circu-
afs was forwarded to every district judge
md district attorney in Texas, and to
,beut 100 Of the county judges, county at
.orneys aad sherifis, and 10 many promi-
lent criminal lawy ers not on the bench.
Many oftheni have answered. These an
.weys show the following results: l. Each
me says that part the crime IN Texas
s Justly chargeable to the use Of intoxi-
ants. the average per cent ofmurders, as
Nuts 10 murder and feionies consisting Of
cts Of violence, was more tnan 6B per
.,ut. Of nisdeIaeanors, consisting of acts
IF violence, more than &C per cent; Of 9TH
p crimes indirectly traeeable to the same
.ause, G2per cent.
These statistics came from all over the
tate and from parties whose position on
his question was not known when the cir
.uiars weIe sent out. Ifthey are at all re-
liable. and this was the very best method
~ could think otto get at the truth, what
terrible showing against the liquor
ums.
Ifsix men in every ten who are killed
% Texas. owe their death TO this cause, is